IT IS KNOWN WITHIN THE LOCAL AREAS THAT MINING EXISTED AS EARLY AS 1410; RECORDS SHOW THAT THE VICAR OF KIPPAX WAS PAID WITH TITHES OF COAL,
ALLERTON BYWATER WAS PART OF THE PARISH AT THE TIME.

BY THE 17th CENTURY THE POTENTIAL FOR MINING IN THE AREA HAD BEEN RECOGNISED AND SIR JOHN LOWTHER BOUGHT THE HAMLETS
OF GREAT PRESTON AND ASTLEY FOR THE SUM OF £3050.00 BECAUSE THE AREA WAS RICH IN COAL AND LIMESTONE.

THE END OF THE 17th CENTURY SAW ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS FOR COAL MINING WITHIN THE AREA.

IN MAY1669 THE ROYAL ASSENT WAS GIVEN TO THE AIRE AND CALDER NAVIGATION ACT AND BY 1703 FORTY MILES OF ADDITIONAL WATERWAY HAD BEEN OPENED UP TO
NAVIGATION ALLOWING KEEL BOATS TO SAIL UPSTREAM AS FAR AS LEEDS ON THE RIVER AIRE AND WAKEFIELD ON THE RIVER CALDER. THIS ALLOWED THEM TO ALSO SAIL DOWNSTREAM WITH COAL INTO THE
RIVER OUSE SYSTEM AND OUT INTO THE HUMBER.

RAIL TRANSPORT CAME EVEN LATER IN1878 WHICH COINCIDED WITH THE WINNING OF THE OF THE PRESENT DAY COLLIERY.

BUT IT WAS THE NAVIGATION THAT PROVIDED THE MAIN MEANS OF TRANSPORT FOR NEARLY 250 YEARS OF RECORDED MINING WITHIN THE
VILLAGE.

THE FIRST COLLIERY WAS THE FENTONS WARREN HOUSE 1756-1820 LITTLE IS KNOWN OF THE WORKING OF THIS COLLIERY.

IN 1786 ALLERTON MAIN COLLIERY SHAFT WAS SUNK, AND A MAP OF THE COLLIERY WAS DRAWN UP BY JAMES MUSCROFT FOR WILLIAM STABLES

OWNERS

THOMAS FENTON && WILLIAM FENTON WERE SOLE OWNERS FROM 1808 - 1820

TIMOTHY SMITH

WILLIAM RICHARDSON

WILLIAM STABLES

THE SECOND COLLIERY WAS CARTERS HAIGH MOOR 1840-1875 A LEASE WAS TAKEN OUT TO SINK AND WORK THIS COLLIERY BY THOMAS CARTER & CO: INITIALLY HE
SANK TWO SHAFTS NEAR TO THE RIVER AIRE BETWEEN THE PRESENT VICTORIA STREET AND ROBINSON STREET INTO THE FOUR FEET SIX INCHES THICK SEAM AT A DEPTH OF 140 YARDS. DURING ITS LIFE THE COLLIERY PRODUCED
ABOUT ONE AND THREE QUARTERS MILLION TONS OF HIGH QUALITY HAIGH MOOR COAL AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 50000 TONS PER YEAR OR 10000 TONS PER WEEK.

THE PRESENT DAY COLLIERY WHICH CLOSED IN 1992 AND IS NOW THE SITE OF THE MILLENNIUM VILLAGE WAS OPENED AROUND 1875.

WITH THE PREVIOUS MINE ENDING ITS LIFE THOMAS CARTER FORMED THE SILKSTONE & HAIGH MOOR COAL COMPANY WITH A CAPITAL OF £50000.00 OF WHICH £43843
WAS ACTUALLY RAISED, THE MAJOR PART OF THE MONEY BEING A MORTGAGE FROM A MR WHEATLEY. WORK COMMENCED ON THE SINKING OF TWO NEW SHAFTS 315 YARDS DEEP INTO THE SILKSTONE SEAM.

IN 1878 THE MINE COMMENCED COAL PRODUCTION FROM THE HAIGH MOOR AND SILKSTONE SEAMS.

THE NEW MINE SOON RAN INTO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES AND IN DECEMBER1888 THE COMPANY WAS SOLD. FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS THE COLLIERY STRUGGLED ON UNTIL
IN 1919 A NEW AMALGAMATION WAS FORMED WITH FRYSTON & WHELDALE COLLIERIES AND THEY UNITED UNDER THE NAME OF AIREDALE COLLIERIES. SOME TIME LATER ALLERTON MAIN COLLIERY WAS ACQUIRED AND THE COMPANY
FLOURISHED RIGHT UP TO NATIONALISATION IN 1947.

IN 1947 THE FIRST POWER LOADING MACHINE WAS INTRODUCED WHERE THE COAL WAS CUT AND LOADED MECHANICALLY ONTO A CONVEYOR, PREVIOUSLY ALL THE WORK HAD
TO BE DONE BY HAND.

Disclaimer

You must not use our website in any way which is unlawful, illegal, fraudulent or harmful, or in connection with any unlawful, illegal fraudulent or
harmful purpose or activity. The majority of content posted in this forum is created by members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of Allerton
Bywater Parish Council. We accept no responsibility for any loss or harm incurred.

WARNING

THE STREETS OF ALLERTON BYWATER HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AN ALCHOHOL FREE ZONE.

THIS MEANS IT IS ILLEGAL TO CONSUME ALCHOHOL IN THE STREETS, THE POLICE HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION AGAINST ANYONE CONSUMING ALCHOHOL IN THE
STREETS.

BE WARNED!

RESPECT OUR ENVIRONMENT

An Environmental officer now patrols the village on different days at differnet times, watching for people who do not clean up after their pets, fines have already been issued. be
warned!

anyone seeing dogfouling or littering can report it by e mail to

environmental.action@leeds.gov.uk

the more information you can give the better, names,addresses,dates,times andreg.numbers of vehicles etc.

We all love our dogs, we ask you to take a plastic bag with you and clean up after your dog, then put the plastic bag in one of the many bins sited throughout the village. Also remember
the health risk to us all from Dog poo.